Boys Soccer: Some teams use long trips to return to action after break

A high school soccer player in a black uniform dribbles the ball in front of a defender in a white uniform with green stripes.

Jayden Villatoro, right, and the Kubasaki Dragons hope to put a win or two on their ledger when they visit Iwakuni this weekend to take on Matthew C. Perry and Zama American. (Photo by Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — Not only are teams gaining valuable playing time and tournament experience when they’ve hit the road for inter-district play this spring.

Some are also winning. That’s a good byproduct when teams are flying or taking lengthy bus rides, then stepping onto the field sometimes right after arriving at their destinations.

Kubasaki’s boys soccer team and Kadena’s and Kubasaki’s softball teams hope to be the next road warriors to put a few inter-district W’s on the scoreboard as well as prime themselves for Far East tournament play, coming up later this month.

The Dragons’ strikers visit Matthew C. Perry to play the Samurai and Zama on Friday and Saturday — two Division II teams that are a combined 18-2-5 this season. Perry has won two in-season tournaments as well, with some victories coming against Division I foes.